Saying "I Do" under the flatirons in Boulder is romantic and ever so perfect for a bride looking for the nuptials to be in a mountain town. Below are 5 Star wedding venues in the Boulder area according to The Knot. Visit The Knot to learn more about venues all over Colorado.

The Greenbriar Inn: This venue is located at the mouth of Left Hand Canyon. With the foothills as a backdrop, both indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies are popular in this spectacular location. There are 7 rooms/areas you can chose from, fitting a party both large or small. Work with the chefs to customize a delectable menu to be accompanied by their extensive award winning wine list. Learn more

Wedgewood Weddings: Located right off the Boulder Creek, you will enjoy the sound of tranquil water and the views of the flatirons. You can choose to host your guests in the Party Tent, the Creek Room or the Flagstaff Room. You can also chose from multiple different packages, allowing you to customize the perfect reception within budget for you. Learn more

The St Julien Hotel:This gorgeous hotel accommodates elegant weddings outside with a mountainous backdrop or inside in a lovely ballroom. You can select 5 different spaces With spa accommodations and downtown shopping and restaurants right out the front door, this venue is perfect for entertaining out-of-town guests. Learn more

Rembrandt Yard: This art gallery and event center is located in downtown Boulder. You can customize your wedding whiting the two-floor venue. Enjoy mountain views through the floor to ceilings windows and feel free to have the freedom to create a unique event that is special to you! Learn more

Hotel Boulderado: This historic hotel is a classy place to host an intimate or large wedding. Select from the Ballroom, the Mezzanine, the Evergreen Meeting Room and the Boardrooms to create your special event. This is also great for accommodating visiting guests. Allow them to stay in rooms once occupied by Helen Keller, Robert Frost and other famous names. Learn more

Boulder Country Club: Enjoy panoramic views of the mountains, lavish balconies, ceiling high windows and wedding planners to help take care of your special day. Learn more and read reviews

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art: This exquisite venue is most notable for the paintings and sketches located in the galleries. Parties can gather in the Event Space or on the Lawn, but are also welcome to roam the gallery during the reception. Learn more

Growler USA is a popular microbrew pub all over America. And now, it is in downtown Louisville. Beginning in Eugene, Oregon, Growler USA had the image of becoming a "national American craft beer pub for all to enjoy." The pub takes traditional beers and innovates them with unique flavors pallets and never misses a beat on creativity. The name comes from the growler vessel that was used to transport beer and, more recently, used to bring beer home from the pub.

Come enjoy the best local and regional craft beers at Louisville’s newest neighborhood pub. Some you’ll know; others you’ll come to love. Enjoy craft cuisine and hand crafted beverages in a comfortable setting. Make yourself at home…only with a much, much larger beer selection. Did we mention 100 taps? And craft beer?And wine. And ciders. And flavored kombucha teas, cold-pressed coffee, and more. We’re all about comfort and yumminess. Is that a word? It should be.Can we hear each other talk? Yes. Is the game on? Yes. Do you do the types of things, like Tap Takeovers, that make the American craft beer scene so fun and endearing? Oh, heck yes.Lunch. Dinner. Drinks. Everything in between. Come on in for a bite and a beverage. Let’s make it a regular thing.

September was full of fun fall festivals and activities. But, October is really when people get in the spirit and can't wait to enjoy crisp fall days drinking cider and walking around pumpkin patches. Below are some October festivals and events not to miss.

Summer is over and school is in session, but there are still a ton of fun things to look forward to in Colorado. Family-friendly activities span across the area, allowing communities to have a taste of fall fun. Already, Fall Fests have begun, but, don't worry, there is still plenty of time to find a fest, pumpkin patch or corn maze that you can attend. Below are some fall events happening in September across Colorado.

Don't let the summer pass you by. Dive into fun on August 26, 9:30 am to 11:30 am., at the Waneka Lake Boathouse for Stand Up Paddle Boarding. These classes, hosted by the city of Lafayette, are meant for all levels. Along with learning the new skill of doing Yoga on a paddle board, you will be guided in how to maneuver the boards and on how to get into each posture. Learn more and register on-line, at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, or on-site. Maximum 12 participants per class, $20/attendee.

The solar eclipse is taking place on Monday August 21. There has been a lot of hype about this, as it may be the most near-total eclipse we will see in our lifetime. The last time the total eclipse came around was in 1918. Although Boulder will only see the partial eclipse, we will still see 93% of it and, therefore, are in a great place to experience what it is all about. Many people have been rushing around Boulder to find solar eclipse glasses and companies have been taking an influx of calls requesting these 3D-like glasses.

So what should we expect? The partial eclipse will begin at 10:22 am. Maximum eclipse will occur at 11:46 am and the eclipse ends at 1:13 pm. Yes, this is a day time event! If you want to get together with some other people in the community to take a front seat to this event, the City of Boulder Human Services Department has you covered! Visit the West Senior Center on 909 Arapahe Ave. between 10 am and 1:30 pm for free admission. If you are hungry, you are in luck, as Meals on Wheels will be serving a special lunch at the location.

What is a total solar eclipse? This happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, casting the Earth in its shadow and makes the day turn into night. It is an experience that Professors of Astronomy live for and something that people will have to see to believe. It is described as the closest you will get to truly experiencing the solar system and understanding how the sun, moon, and planets interact... unless of course you work for NASA. If you miss this one, you will have to wait until 2045 to see another total solar eclipse cut through Colorado.

So, get your glasses, get your friends and enjoy this spectacular show the solar system is hosting on Monday!

A group of Broomfield residents are recommending the city implement a quarter-mile buffer zone between oil and gas wells and homes, parks, schools and bodies of water.The 1,320-foot buffer zone, if adopted by the Broomfield City Council, would apply both to new wells being drilled in the fast-growing community and also to new development that might encroach on existing wells, according to a draft of the recommendations posted to the city’s website.​

KATHLEEN LAVINE | BUSINESS JOURNALThe recommendations take aim at many of the issues, conflicts and concerns that have risen as oil and gas operations in Colorado have grown in size and scale, and in some cases moved nearer to northern Front Range suburban communities and neighborhoods in the last few years.They include suggestions about lights, noise, the quality of the air, water and soil, traffic and setbacks.They’re expected to go to the city council in late August or early September.The Denver Business Journal has written a series of stories about how Broomfield is dealing with oil and gas issues related to a proposal by Denver’s Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. (Nasdaq: XOG).The committee said the recommendations are intended to support the goal of eliminating as many older walls as possible, push drilling as far from residential areas as possible and ensure that oil and gas is done “in a manner that prioritizes the protection of human health, safety and welfare.”The committee also said it recognizes the rights of the people who own the minerals, but said the health and safety of Broomfield residents “is paramount.”“While recognizing that mineral owners have property rights, the health and safety of Broomfield residents is paramount, and maintaining the qualities Broomfield is known for is integral to our position," the committee said.The 14-member committee has spent months working on a update to the city’s existing master plan via a new chapter on how oil and gas development might occur in the city.The 13-page set of draft recommendations include proposals on setback that would:

Require all new surface developments to be no closer than 1,320 feet to an existing oil or gas well, unless there is written notice and informed consent from each individual surface property purchaser and owner.

Require all new oil and gas development wells to be no closer than 1,320 feet from existing or platted residential areas, occupied buildings, parks and school sites.

Require new oil and gas wells to be no closer than 1,320 feet to water bodies at design capacity, unless a variance is granted based upon the inclusion of specific safety requirements during site construction, drilling, completions and operations.

The distance between oil and gas wells and homes have been fought over for years, but the argument has typically focused on new wells and surrounding homes.The opposite issue, how close new homes can be built near older wells, was thrown into sharp relief after the April 17 home explosion in Firestone that killed two men.That explosion was caused by raw natural gas that leaked into the home through an old pipeline that was supposed to be abandoned. The home, built in 2015, was 178 feet from the well, drilled in 1993.The setbacks of new homes from old wells vary widely: 150 feet in Firestone and Dacono, 200 feet in Frederick and Broomfield, 350 feet in Louisville and Lafayette, and 750 feet in Longmont, according to survey of municipal codes by the Boulder Daily Camera.Whether the recommendation, as it applies to new oil and gas wells being 1,320 feet from existing or planned development, is legal, is questionable.Colorado law says the state has authority over oil and gas operations, including the location of those operations. The state’s buffer zone is 500 feet between new oil and gas wells and existing homes.But the state doesn’t have authority over how close new homes, schools are parks can be to an existing oil and gas well — meaning Broomfield’s elected officials can choose to widen the city’s existing buffer zone to 1,320 feet.The 14-member committee noted in its draft that the recommendations were a work in progress and that some of the action steps might “be beyond [Broomfield’s] current legal authorities.”But, the committee said, the recommendations are based on the “collective judgment” of the members of the committee and “may be used to pursue state and federal regulatory changes.”A public meeting on the recommendations is scheduled for 6 p.m., July 20 at the Paul Derda Recreation Center, 13201 Lowell Blvd. The city council will have the final say on the update to Broomfield’s master plan.Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, a trade group, said there are legal concerns around the recommendations — but he noted the draft recommendations are just that, a draft.“There are legal concerns around the draft recommendations put forth by the Broomfield Oil and Gas Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, but there is still time within their process for a thorough legal and technical review in order to reach a workable plan,” Haley said.“My hat goes off to the members of the committee for all their hard work over the past several months," Haley added. "If we can be helpful to the committee’s ongoing efforts, we want to be."The committee was set up after an outcry by Broomfield residents and officials to a plan by Denver’s Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. (Nasdaq: XOG) to drill in the city.The company’s current plan calls for 99 horizontal wells to be drilled from four pads scattered across two miles of the Northwest Parkway east of I-25, plus 40 wells drilled from a fifth pad a few miles north of the parkway in unincorporated Weld County.Extraction executives have sat in on the committee’s meetings, which has had presentations from state and federal officials on industry regulations and practices.“We are thrilled that the task force has come out with the draft recommendations and is nearing the completion of the process,” Extractionspokesman Brian Cain said.The company is planning to start negotiating an amendment to its existing memorandum of understanding with the city soon, Cain said.“We recognized that the language [in the recommendations] is only a draft and is meant to apply to oil and gas development over the next 20 years — there’s a lot to be done yet on this draft,” he said.The draft recommendations also included:

Requirements that the energy company do baseline air quality testing, before drilling, and monitoring using a city-approved contractor.

Do testing for soil and water quality, including groundwater, before and after drilling.

Cutting-edge technology including electric-powered drilling rigs that are hooking into the local utility’s power grid and the use of pipelines instead of trucks to carry water, oil and gas to and from the well site.

Requiring housing developers and sellers, through regulations and MOUs and consistent with existing law, to provide notice to all prospective home purchasers (prior to execution of purchase agreement) of permitted new drilling areas within one mile of the home.

Cathy Proctor covers energy, the environment and transportation for the Denver Business Journal and edits the weekly "Energy Inc." email newsletter. Phone: 303-803-9233. Subscribe to the Energy Inc. newsletter

Hanging Lake is a spectacular hike that is rewarding athletically and visually. In the summer, enjoy a mountainous drive up to Glenwood Springs where Hanging Lake lies within the cliffs of the Glenwood Canyon. Be sure to get there early, as the parking lot fills up quickly. Driving West towards Hanging Lake, you will have to turn around at the Glenwood exit in order to come back to the exit that leads you to the Hanging Lake parking lot. Luckily for you, this allows you to check out the quaint, mountainous town of Glenwood Springs, which you might enjoy coming back to for lunch. A moderate hike, this one-mile trail trail is accessible to most hiking levels. It is rocky and has one very steep section where you might have to use your hands to help you climb up though, so beware of brining too young of children. Once you do get your exercise in and zig zag across bridges that suspends over the Dead Horse Creek, you will find yourself at a fork in the road. If you go left, you will climb a bit higher and find yourself under a gloriously large and fierce waterfall. Stop to appeal to all your five senses. Listen to the rushing water, feel the sprinkle on your face and smell the mountainous air. Taking a right will lead you to the magnificent Hanging lake. A manicured path will take you to the clear, turquoise, tranquil lake that sits perfectly still before tipping down the mountain into the vigorous waterfall. Take a moment to sit on the benches, take a photo and feel rewarded by your hard work.Don't miss this spectacular hike in Colorado!

School is out and summer is in session. But, sometimes it can be hard to find entertainment for your kids. Lucky for you, Denver has a plethora of fun activities in and around the downtown area to help make this the best summer yet!

Don't miss out on Free Days at the Denver Botanic Gardens. At the Chatfield Farms Location, the Lavender Festival will take place on Saturday July 15. The Lavender Festival celebrates the Lavender Gardens, built in 2015 and dedicated to lavender plants. Food, dessert, drinks, face painting and more will be provided. At the York Street Location, Monday July 17 will have Free Admission for guests.

Learn more about the Denver Botanic Gardens below: Our MissionThe mission of Denver Botanic Gardens is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.The mission of Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms is to inspire the public to be good stewards of the environment by connecting people to our past, present and future relationships with plants of the Rocky Mountain region.Our Core ValuesOur four core values — transformation, relevance, diversity and sustainability — spell out the Gardens' intentions in the years ahead. These core values are cohesive and serve as a map to chart our course. With the support of friends, we set out to ensure Denver Botanic Gardens will forever flourish.

Google is moving to Boulder and it's presence is becoming more and more known. Buildings are starting to take shape and this tech-savvy community is getting excited. Phase I, which accommodates 1,000 workers, opposed to the 340 current Boulder employees, is expected to be done this year. Phase II includes the construction that is starting to take place at the intersection of 30th and Pearl, but does not currently have a set end date. This phase will contribute to the total project which includes four acres and 330,000 square feet. By then end of the project, there will be three four-story buildings with underground parking.

Google has also made a huge investment in an affordable housing project in Boulder. This project will help renovate hundreds of apartment buildings and offer a less expensive solution for those looking for housing in Boulder. This type of project is not new to Google, as their goal is to provide affordable, high quality, safe housing options for its community members and workers. These programs also allow Google to build large office space in exchange for bringing betterment to the area. In Google's founding city, Mountain View, CA, the company implemented a multi-million dollar project to invest in trails, a science center and affordable housing. In total, the company has invested in these types of projects in 44 cities across the US. There is some controversy in Boulder, however, how an affordable housing project may affect the current market. With prices so high, offering lower prices could drive down the market in order to keep it competitive. However, the pro is that Boulder get's the benefits of a large company's resources and their investment into Boulder.

One of the first apartment complexes set to begin it's renovation is Nest in South Boulder. These units will be more energy efficient and improved at the end of renovation. Osage and Thunderbird, also in South Boulder will also be apart of this project. To learn more, visit Boulder County Business ​